Fun with learning

The play area in front of the main Aziza's Place building, with the open-air classroom on the balcony

I visited Aziza's Place this morning and came away with a smile on my face at how 20 children from desperately poor backgrounds are being given a fantastic opportunity to develop and learn at such a progressive learning center. Though most of the children have families, only five are orphans, without the full-time schooling and a myriad of other learning aides provided by Aziza's Place, they simply would not have a hope in hell of getting out of the cycle of poverty into which they were born. The center provides accommodation for all of the children, who also return to their families at weekends and holidays, as well as medical care, nutritious meals and a wealth of classes from computing, clay sculpting, photography, karate and football to Apsara dancing and music. The emphasis is on learning with fun, the center employs salaried teachers and the children also attend the public school a block away, which is near the Russian Market. My thanks to Allie for showing me around the center and you can read a lot more about the history behind Aziza's Place at www.azizasplace.org or email allie@azizafoundation.org.

One of the classes at Aziza's Place with their full-time Khmer teacher

A volunteer provides the older boys with an advanced English lesson